“One thorn of experience is worth a whole wilderness of warning”

Wiaan van der Linde (Owner/Director); Hennie Gouws (Co-Owner); Johnny Vivier (Marketing Director)


In 2001, Wiaan van der Linde got involved with Wintershoek Investments, which was at that stage, one of the legendary Johnny Vivier Safaris’s main hunting concessions here in South-Africa. This is where a lifelong friendship and bussines relationship started between Wintershoek Safaris and Johnny Vivier Safaris!

Johnny grew up hunting in the old Rhodesia with his father, and he started Johnny Vivier Safaris when he moved to South-Africa in 1979. Since then he has built up a legacy in the hunting industry, and he was selected by Safari Club International over and above all African Outfitters to conduct the prestigious, Safari Club International’s Political Action Commitees Big 5 Hunt of a Lifetime an incredible 4 times! He was also nominated twice by Safari Club International for the Outstanding Professional Hunter of the year award.

In 2005, after our old area was turned into a National Park, Wiaan developed a new hunting area close by, and together with some other landowners, he built up which is today one of the BIGGEST and VERY BEST hunting areas in South-Africa called Wintershoek Private Game Reserve!

At the end of 2006, Wiaan bought Johnny Vivier Safaris, and we are lucky enough to have Johnny still very involved in the bussines as our Marketing Director. Since then Wintershoek/Johnny Vivier Safaris have been one of the LEADING and MOST EXPERIENCED Safari Outfitters in Africa! Wintershoek/Johnny Vivier Safaris were recently recognized by Safari Club International as one of the top 250 Outfitters throughout the WORLD!

In 2009, Wiaan also started his own Taxidermy Studio called African San Taxidermy, so that our clients’s valuable trophies can be looked after by ourselves!! He also won the 2009 Wildlife Ranching South-Africa’s Managers Award for his outstanding contribution to Wildlife Ranching in South-Africa.

In 2010, Wiaan also won the Northern Cape Farmer of the Year Award.

In 2010 another land owner in the Northern Cape, Hennie Gouws, decided to join this leading Outfit, and he brought 3 more hunting areas to the party. This meant that Wintershoek/Johnny Vivier Safaris now OWNS more than 110 000 acres of prestine hunting land, with some of the very best lodges here in the Northern Cape Province of South-Africa! In addition to these areas, Wintershoek/Johnny Vivier Safaris also has acces to some of the best hunting/big game hunting areas in Southern Africa.

This kind of recognition and combination of joint experience, and a flawless reputation, is without question an essential tool and an absolute must for any potential hunter looking to book a safari with a top class Outfit at affordable rates. Our unique hunting areas and our team of highly skilled and experienced professional hunters and staff will ensure that you get the BEST hunting experience possible!!!